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By K Raveendran Oil prices fell to their lowest level in five months on Tuesday, continuing a slide that has gathered pace over the past several weeks. The benchmark Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude futures have both dipped significantly, erasing much of the year’s earlier gains. In stark contrast, gold has soared to an […]

The article Gold Feeds On Oil’s Misfortune; One Hits The Roof, The Other Down In The Dumps appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink asserted that cryptocurrencies carry a role akin to gold in investment portfolios, calling Bitcoin “a decent tool for diversification” while warning that it should not form a major slice of one’s holdings.

Speaking on 60 Minutes on CBS, Fink said: “There is a role for crypto in the same way there is a role for gold … For those looking to diversify, it is not a bad asset, but I don’t believe that it should be a large component of your portfolio.”

Fink’s remarks mark a notable shift from earlier positions. In the past, he dismissed Bitcoin as a facilitator of money laundering, stating that none of his clients expressed interest in crypto. The evolution of his thought underscores how digital assets have moved further into mainstream investment discourse.

His comments come amid rising institutional engagement with digital asset markets, with BlackRock among firms championing the development of spot Bitcoin ETFs. The firm has also begun pushing into tokenization, envisioning the conversion of traditional financial products such as equities, bonds or real estate into digital token formats. Fink described tokenization of all assets as “the next wave of opportunity” over the coming decades.

Analysts view Fink’s balanced tone—acknowledging both potential and restraint—as calibrated for the climate of heightened volatility and regulatory uncertainty in crypto markets. He is signalling openness without forfeiting caution.

Some investors welcomed the endorsement as validation from one of finance’s most influential figures, though sceptics note that Fink’s insistence on limiting crypto to a small portfolio slice reflects enduring reservations.

Crypto proponents point out that Bitcoin’s often low correlation with equities or bonds—and its non-sovereign character—make it attractive as a diversification instrument. BlackRock itself in earlier internal research has characterised Bitcoin as a “unique diversifier,” citing its tendency to behave differently from traditional assets during episodes of macro stress.

Yet the environment remains fraught. Price swings, regulatory fragmentation across jurisdictions, and infrastructure challenges continue to deter widespread adoption. For instance, debates persist around how to regulate digital assets, custody risks, taxation, and classification.

By Nitya Chakraborty On October 10, the Nobel Prize Committee awarded the Peace prize for the year 2025 to the Venezuelan right wing politician Maria Corina Machado who has been working for the last few years for the removal of the President Nicholas Maduro from his office. The White House initially reacted that the Nobel […]

The article Trump Has Not Got Nobel Peace Prize But The Winner Machado Is His Acolyte In Latin America appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Alphabet’s Google will commit $10 billion to develop a 1-gigawatt data centre and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, marking its largest investment in India to date, state officials have confirmed. A formal MoU is to be signed today to solidify the partnership.

The data centre campus across three sites — Tarluvada, Adavivaram and Rambilli — will form a hyperscale cluster integrated with AI computing capacity, robust fibre-optic links and dedicated power supply, including renewable energy sources. The initiative is central to Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to scale its data centre capacity to 6 GW over the coming years.

Ahead of the MoU signing, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union ministers are expected to attend, reinforcing confidence in the project’s strategic significance. IT minister Nara Lokesh described data as “the new oil” underscoring the state’s drive to anchor itself in the global AI infrastructure map.

The Google investment taps into intensifying competition among global cloud and tech firms racing to establish AI infrastructure in India. Over the past months, tech majors have escalated commitments toward data centres, seeking to capitalise on surging demand for cloud and generative AI services.

Development of supportive infrastructure is underway in tandem. The state plans to enhance grid capacity, ensure uninterrupted power, and establish multiple cable landing stations to facilitate connectivity across Asia. The Hyderabad–Vizag corridor is poised to evolve as a subsea cable and data junction.

However, land acquisition hurdles pose a risk. Authorities have earmarked about 200 acres in Tarluvada, but litigation filed by claimants — some reportedly on behalf of proxy or deceased farmers — has slowed progress. The government has increased compensation to approximately ₹50 lakh per acre, and pledged jobs, shop spaces and housing plots to mitigate resistance. Chief Minister Naidu has directed efforts to fast-track resolution and suppress obstruction by alleged benami interests.

Political friction is surfacing. Local legislators from opposition parties accuse rivals of stalling the project to protect illicit land holdings. The TDP’s Palla Srinivasa Rao claimed that the ruling party is attempting to block acquisitions under the guise of safeguarding farmers’ rights, citing instances of forged or ghost claims. The government rejects these accusations and says it will uphold legitimate legal processes while pushing ahead.

Economic projections for the project are ambitious: estimates suggest the cluster could generate over 180,000 direct and indirect jobs between 2028 and 2032 and significantly boost Andhra Pradesh’s gross state domestic product. Analysts see the facility acting as a catalyst for ancillary sectors such as data-fabric supply chains, clean energy, construction and telecom.

This deal follows prior reports that Google had earlier signalled a $6 billion investment in Andhra Pradesh’s data infrastructure; that figure is now superseded by the $10 billion commitment, reflecting the expanded scale and inclusion of AI ambitions. The project’s success will depend on timely approvals, legal clearances, and seamless coordination between state, union and private stakeholders.

Visakhapatnam’s emerging status as a data centre hub is further supported by parallel developments: Sify is launching an AI edge data centre and submarine cable landing station; Meta is participating in undersea cable projects. With Google anchoring a flagship investment, Andhra Pradesh expects to draw further technology firms to its eastern corridor.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment is spotlighting a suite of digital housing solutions at GITEX Global 2025, announcing strategic tie-ups aimed at advancing smart infrastructure and inclusive living. The initiative underscores Dubai’s push to fuse technology with urban development amid intensifying global competition in digital transformation.

MBRHE is presenting new digital services engineered to optimise housing operations, energy efficiency and resident experience. At GITEX, the entity finalised a partnership with Emirates Islamic Bank to develop financing and digital payment tools tailored for homeowners, and earlier inked an agreement with AI Smart to retrofit housing units with assistive technologies for People of Determination. The latter includes deploying smart systems in five identified residences to enhance mobility and independence. These deals complement an existing MoU with Emirates Gas to supply next-generation LPG composite cylinders across MBRHE communities, complete with annual maintenance services.

As part of Dubai’s government ecosystem at GITEX, MBRHE is listed among Gold Partners in the Digital Dubai pavilion, joining over 50 public and private entities promoting the emirate’s City-as-a-Service model. This placement gives MBRHE visibility amid hundreds of technology players from more than 180 countries. The pavilion is intended to demonstrate cross-sector digital synergies across health, energy, mobility and governance spheres.

MBRHE officials emphasise a multipronged strategy. The partnership with Emirates Islamic is geared toward embedding embedded financial tools into housing services. The AI Smart alliance is positioned as a step toward inclusive smart homes. Meanwhile, the collaboration with Emirates Gas addresses energy reliability and safety in residential zones under MBRHE’s purview. In announcing the AI Smart engagement, MBRHE described it as aligning with UAE leadership’s agenda to empower all segments of society, especially People of Determination.

The move follows MBRHE’s earlier commitment with GFS Developments to launch the Smart Housing Forum 2025, a platform to convene global experts on sustainable housing innovation. That partnership, formalised in late September, frames GITEX as a conduit for showcasing outcomes and inviting further collaboration.

Industry analysts say MBRHE’s integration of housing, finance, energy and assistive technology is representative of a wider trend in the Gulf: public agencies are no longer viewing infrastructure in isolation but as an integrated service ecosystem. State-linked housing bodies are increasingly collaborating with fintech, cleantech, proptech and social inclusion tech firms to convert static assets into responsive, data-enabled platforms.

Critics caution that the true test lies in execution, particularly in integrating legacy systems, ensuring cybersecurity across interconnected modules, and managing equitable access across lower-income beneficiary groups. For instance, retrofitting older housing stock with IoT or assistive systems often requires structural upgrades, which carry cost and logistical burdens.

At GITEX, MBRHE is expected to demonstrate live pilot models of smart home systems, energy monitoring dashboards, and resident apps that tie into real estate finance. These demos will act as proof points to entice further private sector engagement and scaling. MBRHE’s role as both regulator and operator gives it leverage but also raises accountability for outcomes.

Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, is committing up to $2 billion in Polymarket, valuing the event-prediction platform at about $8 billion before the investment. ICE will serve as a global distributor of Polymarket’s event-driven data and will collaborate on tokenisation and related infrastructure.

Polymarket is gearing up for its return to U. S. markets following a multi-year regulatory hiatus. The firm acquired QCEX, a derivatives exchange and clearinghouse with CFTC licensure, for $112 million, enabling it to operate under U. S. regulation. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has granted a no-action letter for event contracts, clearing a path for U. S. users to trade again.

Born in 2020 under the leadership of CEO Shayne Coplan, Polymarket permits users to wager on outcomes by purchasing “Yes” or “No” tokens. The market price implies a probability. Winning tokens settle at $1, while losing ones expire worthless. All trades occur via peer-to-peer smart contracts built on the Polygon blockchain.

Polymarket saw a surge in profile during the 2024 U. S. presidential campaign, when trading volume on election markets surpassed $3 billion. Its probability signals have since been picked up by mainstream outlets and financial analysts as indicators of public sentiment and forecasting.

ICE’s strategic investment reflects growing institutional interest in prediction markets. With control over NYSE infrastructure and deep data capabilities, ICE aims to monetise sentiment analytics and integrate such signals alongside traditional financial indicators. ICE has maintained that the investment will not materially affect its 2025 financials.

Coplan has acknowledged the significance of the tie-up, saying the partnership “marks a major step in bringing prediction markets into the financial mainstream.” Jeffrey Sprecher, ICE’s CEO, praised the union as an alignment between legacy market infrastructure and next-generation decentralised finance innovation.

Observers suggest that navigating regulatory risk is central to Polymarket’s success. Its three-year exit from U. S. users followed a 2022 settlement with the CFTC over unregistered derivatives operations. That settlement barred U. S. users from accessing the platform, and investigations into U. S. usage had been a cloud over the company. With the regulatory clearance and ICE backing, Polymarket is now executing a comeback in the U. S. domain.

Polymarket also attracted backing from 1789 Capital, a venture fund backed by Donald Trump Jr., which joined its advisory board earlier this year. Kalshi, a peer prediction market, won a favorable court ruling against the CFTC last year, setting precedents that influence Polymarket’s legal and operational landscape. The broader industry is watching closely, as the success or failure of this bet by ICE may signal whether prediction markets can transition from niche crypto tools to mainstream financial instruments.

Shayne Coplan, born in 1998 and a former dropout from New York University, is now recognised as the youngest self-made billionaire under the Bloomberg index following the deal. His trajectory illustrates the accelerating nexus among finance, tech and speculative market platforms.

Dubai — The Syrian Pavilion will make its first appearance at GITEX Expand North Star 2025, opening from 12 to 15 October, under the banner “Syria is Online.” This marks a milestone in Syria’s efforts to reconnect with the international innovation community and attract investment for its fledgling tech ecosystem.

The pavilion is being organised by SYNC, the Syria-Next Conference network, and backed by the Syrian Business Council and the U. S.–Syria Business Council. It aims to provide Syrian startups a platform to showcase digital solutions, engage in pitching sessions, facilitate panel discussions, and establish connections with global investors and industry partners.

Bassel Yassine Ojjeh, Chairman of SYNC and project lead for the pavilion, stated that the initiative intends to generate 25,000 tech-related jobs over five years through strengthened collaboration and external funding. He emphasised that GITEX offers “a vital step … to showcase Syrian talent and build partnerships that open doors for a new generation shaping the digital future.”

The pavilion will include startup pitch showcases, interactive tech talks, and networking forums. It plans to highlight projects in sectors such as fintech, AI, e-commerce, digital health and creative tech. Several Syrian entrepreneurs have already submitted entries, and a curated selection will present on the main stages of Expand North Star.

The move aligns with a broader expansion of national pavilions in this year’s GITEX edition. Brazil is participating as the Country Partner, and new delegations from Serbia, Hong Kong, Canada and Ecuador are set to join the global tech showcase. The event is expected to host over 1,800 startups and 1,000 investors managing over USD 1 trillion AUM, turning Dubai into a tech capital for dealflow.

Despite decades of conflict and economic sanctions, Syria retains a reservoir of technical talent across its population, especially among youth and diaspora communities. SYNC was founded with the objective of bridging Syrian innovators in Silicon Valley and the diaspora with on-ground talent, thereby facilitating collaboration, mentorship, and capital flows. The 2025 edition of SYNC was held in Damascus earlier this year, bringing together local technologists and overseas experts to discuss ecosystem development.

Still, Syrian tech ambitions face significant headwinds. Infrastructure deficits, internet connectivity constraints, regulatory uncertainties, difficulties in accessing cross-border payment systems, and war-induced economic fragmentation continue to challenge the sector’s scalability. International sanctions and distrust around financial compliance also complicate foreign investment.

To mitigate these risks, the pavilion’s backers aim to frame Syria’s entry into the tech market as more than symbolic. Organisers say they are structuring due diligence frameworks, matchmaking with vetted investors, and post-event follow-up mechanisms to sustain momentum beyond the exhibition.

Abu Dhabi Airports, Al Hail Holding and technology partner Xare have signed a memorandum of understanding to pilot a regulated digital wallet for inbound visitors at Zayed International Airport, aiming to streamline payments and reinforce the UAE’s digital economy ambitions.

The three parties will also collaborate on smart mobility and sustainable infrastructure projects that integrate AI-driven transport systems and next-generation payment platforms. Abu Dhabi Airports will supply operational support and infrastructure, while Al Hail Holding, via its affiliates including Zand Bank and Index Exchange, will provide regulatory and financial structuring. Xare is tasked with the technological integration of wallet, merchant and partner interfaces.

Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, described the initiative as a shift in role for airports: “Airports are evolving from gateways into platforms for seamless digital commerce. Through our partnership … we will pilot cashless, next-generation payment technologies that simplify every step of the traveller journey and redefine convenience, sustainability and financial access.”

Hamad Jassim Al Darwish, CEO of Al Hail Holding, emphasised the alignment with UAE policy goals: “By combining our expertise in governance, regulatory engagement and financial services with Abu Dhabi Airports’ operational capabilities, we will deliver solutions that benefit travellers and contribute to national economic growth.”

Xare’s co-founder Milind Singh noted that the firm’s existing stack—covering instant onboarding, programmable payments and merchant connectivity—positions it to deliver monetisation options and novel traveller experiences across airports and city ecosystems.

Within the MoU, a joint steering committee will guide development and execution. Abu Dhabi Airports will integrate the wallet systems into its broader ecosystem, Al Hail Holding will coordinate with regulators and manage financial arrangements, and Xare will build the interface connecting travellers, merchants and payment rails.

The digital wallet aims to offer travellers a secure, cashless method to pay for airport services and possibly retail, while also exploring stablecoin or digital-asset payments as part of the architecture.

Beyond payments, the partnership targets smart mobility upgrades across airport operations. Anticipated efforts include AI-enabled systems, intelligent transport technologies and infrastructure enhancements to increase efficiency, safety and environmental performance across Abu Dhabi’s airport network.

The project aligns with the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which prioritise adoption of advanced fintech, digital assets and sustainable infrastructure across sectors.